[University - English] Suggestions for a modern book

[sumzup]

I'm currently taking a class this semester called "Books Since You Were Born" which deals with literature that has been published since around 1991 or so.

The booklist for the semester:

• Life After God - Douglas Coupland
• Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
• The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
• Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi
• Icelander - Dustin Long

Our final project deals with finding a book of our own from the aforementioned time period, writing a 5-7 page paper about why it should be read by next semester's class, and doing a presentation in front of the class. The class will then vote on the book it feels most appropriate, and the one that wins will be read by the next group of people to take this class.

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Where I need your (FFR's) help is getting some suggestions for a book to use. A reminder: it has to have been published after 1991; also, it should preferably have some depth to it (no chicklit or other stuff of that sort, please).

Right now, I have one idea of a book that could be appropriate:

• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman Alexie

I think it could work (I haven't read it yet, though), but I want a few more suggestions before I make a decision.

Thanks for your time/help!

[retching oesophagus]

what kind of book are you looking for. does it have to be of a certain theme or just any book published around that time. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis is a pretty good book from around 1991, i think.

[dood gone krazee]

I actually would have gone with The Time Traveler's Wife, its a pretty good book.

Try doing something from Stephen King, he has some great books, and I'm pretty sure he has one published around that time.

[JKPolk]

Ugh, don't do Stephen King if you want to keep your dignity. One that would be really easy to write about would be The Kite Runner. It's super popular, though, so it would be a little generic. I really wish I could suggest catch-22, but that's 30 years too old

[devonin]

Something by Robert J Sawyer, say "Calculating God" or "Factoring Humanity" would be an excellent choice.

Also, A University class dealing with books since you were born, and starting from 1991? God I'm old.

[JKPolk]

To be fair, I started looking for books from the mid 80s before I noticed it was '91.

[devonin]

When I had to change majors into history, and basically do the entire major requirements of the degree in 3 semestes, I was in one semester in a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year history course at the same time. In the first year class, the professor was taking attendance, and someone when called upon said "Here, but that's not my last name. I'm getting my name changed as soon as I turn 18"

I was like...There are SEVENTEEN year olds in my university class? Good god. I felt very old.

[Zythus]

Devonin you.....you....adult! =O

Meh, being 15 feels tad indifferent from 18, in my opinion.

[Xandertrax]

If you're still looking for suggestions, I highly recommend either of Mark Z. Danielewski's books, House of Leaves or Only Revolutions. Both have an insane amount of depth to them, and are excellent reads at the same time.

[devonin]

Am I the only person in the world who thought that House of Leaves would be a million times better if the whole book were just the Navidson Record expanded out to 300 pages?

[sumzup]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I ended up going with "Calculating God" (thanks devonin!). It's very good so far, and I think I will end up reading the rest of the books Robert J. Sawyer has written. It seems my view of the sci-fi genre has been dreadfully myopic up to this point, and I intend to rectify that.

Also, I'm probably going to read Danielewski's books as well. I have a lot on my reading list...it's just as well that my summer will effectively start around the first week of May.

[devonin]

I ended up going with "Calculating God" (thanks devonin!).

Hehe, no problem at all. Glad you're enjoying it.